Wales has a history of
descendants across the globe. Did you know that sixteen of the men who signed
the Declaration of Independence in America in 1776 had Welsh roots, including
Thomas Jefferson?

The first Welsh immigrants to
America and Canada were as early as the 1600s. In Patagonia, South America a
strong colony of Welsh-speaking ancestors remain today. Many people also
migrated to Wales from across the world thanks to the boom of the coal
industry. Records show that between 1851 and 1911, around 366,000 people came
to the South Wales area to set up home. The migration of people in and out of
Wales has left a significant number of Welsh descendants worldwide.

Joseph Walker (Walkup) Wauchope

Joseph Walker Walkup
(brother of Samuel Houston Walkup) (December 28, 1826- December 31,
1903). He was married first, to Jennie Armstrong; and second, to Kate
Kendrick.

This hymn lyrics were written by William Williams in 1745, and the hymn tune was written by John Hughes in 1907.

William Williams, called the "Watts of Wales," was born in 1717 in Carmarthenshire. He originally studied medicine, but abandoned it for theology. He was ordained a Deacon in the Church of England, but was refused Priest's Orders, and subsequently attached himself to the Calvinistic Methodists. For half a century he traveled in Wales, preaching the Gospel. He died in 1791. Williams composed his hymns chiefly in the Welsh language; they are still largely used by various denominations in Wales. His two principal poetical works are "Hosannah to the Son of David," and "Gloria in Excelsis."

The hymn tune "Cwm Rhondda," was taken from the Welsh name for the Rhondda Valley, and was a popular hymn tune written by John Hughes who wrote the first version of the tune, which he called "Rhondda," in 1905, for the Cymanfa Ganu (hymn festival) in Pontykpridd, when the enthusiasm for the 1904-1905 Welsh Revival still remained. The present form of the tune was developed for the inaguration of the organ at Chapel Rhondda, in Hopkinstown in the Rhondda Valley, in 1907.

Hughes himself played the organ at this performance, using the English translation of William Williams' words because of the large number of English-speaking industrial workers who had immigrated to the area. The name was changed from "Rhondda" to "Cwm Rhondda" by Harry Evans, of Dowlais, to avoid confusion with another tune by M.O. Jones.

The hymn describes the
experience of God's people in their travel through the wilderness from the
escape from slavery in Egypt, (Exodus 12–14), being guided by a cloud by day and
a fire by night, (Exodus 13:17–22) to their final arrival forty years later in the
land of Canaan, (Joshua 3). During this time their needs were supplied by God,
including the daily supply of manna, Exodus 16.

The hymn text forms an
allegory for the journey of a Christian throughout their life on earth
requiring the Redeemer's guidance and ending at the gates of Heaven (the verge
of Jordan) and end of time (death of death and hell's destruction).

The hymn has been sung on
various British state occasions such as the funerals of Diana, Princess of
Wales and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, and the wedding of Prince William
and Catherine Middleton.

The hymn is also featured
prominently in the soundtrack to the 1941 film How Green Was My Valley,
directed by John Ford. The soundtrack, by Alfred Newman, won that year's
Academy Award for Original Music Score. It is also featured at the beginning of
The African Queen (film), with Katharine Hepburn singing and playing the organ.
Only Men Aloud! also sang an arrangement by Tim Rhys-Evans and Jeffrey Howard
on the BBC 1 Show Last Choir Standing in 2008. They subsequently released it on
their self-titled début album.

The hymn was the informal
anthem of Wales in the "Green and Pleasant Land" section of the 2012
Summer Olympics opening ceremony. It was also sung on 29 April, 2011, at the
Royal Wedding.

Apart from church use,
probably its best known use is as the 'Welsh Rugby Hymn', often sung by the
crowd at rugby matches, especially those of the Wales national rugby union
team. There it is common for all voices to sing the repeat of the last three
syllables of the last-but-one line, e.g. "want no more" or
"strength and shield" (which in church use is repeated only in the
bass and alto parts, if at all).

The National Service of Thanksgiving to
Celebrate The Diamond Jubilee Of Her Majesty The Queen
St Paul's Cathedral, Tuesday 5th June 2012

The
combined Choirs of
St Paul's Cathedral and Her Majesty's Chapel Royal
are directed by
ANDREW CARWOOD
Director of Music, St Paul's Cathedral

The Organ of St Paul's Cathedral
is played for the Service by
SIMON JOHNSON
Organist and Assistant Director of Music

Sung
in English and Welsh to the tune 'Cwm Rhondda' by the choirs and congregation
of Tabernacle Welsh Baptist Church, Cardiff. The hymn and tune are often called
'Bread of Heaven' due to a line in the hymn. Often used as the informal anthem
of Wales. Source: 'Songs of Praise', 16th September 2012.

This
land of my fathers is dear to me
Land of poets and singers, and people of stature
Her brave warriors, fine patriots
Shed their blood for freedom

Chorus:
Land! Land! I am true to my land!
As long as the sea serves as a wall for this pure, dear land
May the language endure for ever.

Old
land of the mountains, paradise of the poets,
Every valley, every cliff a beauty guards;
Through love of my country, enchanting voices will be
Her streams and rivers to me.

Chorus

Though
the enemy have trampled my country underfoot,
The old language of the Welsh knows no retreat,
The spirit is not hindered by the treacherous hand
Nor silenced the sweet harp of my land.

Chorus

Like Ireland and Scotland, Wales has a
vibrant, healthy modern music scene based on instruments and music that stretch
back hundreds of years. Today there are over 200 choirs in Wales. Several
formed in the 1800s, are still active.

Live
from the St David's Hall, Cardiff, on April 19th 2014.

From
'The Glory of Easter' - 'Crown Him with Many Crowns'

With
the Cambrensis choir and orchestra, together with the St David's Praise choir.